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II.Sample Cover Letter Language‣ Sample Body of Cover Letter for a 1L with no law experienceI am a first year student at Syracuse University College of Law interested in a summer positionwith LAW FIRM XYZ. I am particularly interested in working for your firm because of yourlocation in Charlotte, the banking capital of the south, and your strong banking practice.My experience working as a teller and in the administrative offices of Bank Boston will help mein making the transition to working this summer in banking law. I understand the basic businesspractices of banking and will draw upon this knowledge base to perform the tasks assigned to meas a summer law clerk.Furthermore, my course of study has also prepared me well for a summer law clerk position. Irecognize that strong legal research and writing skills are what legal employers look for in acandidate. Syracuse University College of Law’s first year program provides excellent trainingin legal research and writing. As a student in the year long course entitled “Law Firm” I amwriting legal memoranda, conducting research, and drafting contracts and pleadings. Theseassignments cover many areas of law, and they serve to make the subject matter I am learning inother first year courses come to life.‣ Sample Body of Cover Letter for a 2L with legal experience but no stellar academicachievements (this is the majority of the student body!)I am a second year student at Syracuse University College of Law interested in a summer lawclerk position with Small Firm. I am particularly interested in working for your firm because ofyour location near my home town of Fargo, and your solid reputation in the field of employmentdiscrimination.With my work experience and coursework in employment discrimination, I have the skills andknowledge to contribute to your practice. Last summer at the New York State Division ofHuman Rights, I assisted attorneys and investigators in researching complaints and law. Iinterviewed complainants, wrote substantive memoranda, and drafted pleadings. Since the officewas short-staffed due to state budget cuts, I was given increased responsibility during my 10weeks with the office. The class on Employment Discrimination that I took last spring helped toprepare me for my work last summer, and it is something I would continue to draw upon inworking for you this summer.IV.Thank You Notes and Other CorrespondenceA thank you letter (not note card or greeting card) should be typewritten or word processed,never handwritten. Use the same paper you used for your cover letter and other correspondence.It should be sent within 48 hours of the interview or contact event. If there were any issuesduring the interview which you feel need further explanation, do so briefly at this time. It is notnecessary, after visiting a law firm, to send a thank you letter to each partner or associate withwhom you interviewed unless you can personalize each note by mentioning briefly somethingunique which you spoke about with each person. Instead, send one thank you note to the41
ecruitment coordinator, if the firm has one, asking him or her to thank each person with whomyou met, or to a partner with whom you met (see example below), asking him or her to thank hisor her colleagues. This letter will likely become a part of your application file, and everyone onthe hiring committee will have access to the file and will ultimately see your letter. If, however,you really “clicked” with someone, feel free to write a letter to that person too. Just be sure topersonalize it, so that different people aren’t receiving the same letter.Hint: Asking interviewers for business cards will help you remember their names and titles andassure that you spell them correctly.‣ Thank you note after an interview at a law firm or organization, where you metwith only one person (this is the bare minimum)Dear Mr. or Ms. _________________:Thank you for an enjoyable and informative interview on Monday, February 17. I greatlyappreciated the opportunity to meet with you and to learn more about the Legal Aid Society’ssummer internship program. I remain very interested in your organization and would be happyto provide you with any additional information you may require. Thank you once again fortaking the time to meet with me.Sincerely,‣ Thank you note after a callback or extended interview at a law firm or organizationDear Mr. or Ms. _________________:Thank you for an enjoyable and informative interview on Friday, February 21. I greatlyappreciated the opportunity to meet with members of your firm, enjoy a delightful luncheon andtour your offices.My time at Smith, Jones & Roberts confirmed my initial impression of the firm as one whichprovides attorneys with a challenging work environment and an opportunity to work on a varietyof interesting and diverse matters. I hope that I was able to convey my strong desire to work foryour firm as a summer associate.Please extend my gratitude to your colleagues Ralph Johnson and Janis Brady for taking timefrom their busy schedules to meet with me and to Ann Levine for arranging my interviews.Once again, I am extremely interested in Smith, Jones & Roberts and look forward to hearingfrom you soon.Sincerely,‣ Correspondence providing additional materials (this is the bare minimum)Dear Mr. or Ms.__________________:As per your request, I am enclosing a sample of my legal writing and a list of references. Thewriting sample is a memorandum from my Law Firm course this semester.42
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